Mini Boston Cream Pies

With Pi Day this week and my birthday coming up next week,
I started reminiscing how my friend in college would bring me a Boston Cream Pie
from Marie Callender's on my birthday. My college days are years ago, my friend lives
in D.C. and I haven't seen him in too many years, and Marie Callendar's doesn't make the
Boston Cream Pie anymore. Sigh. So! I decided to make some delicious mini Boston cream
pies that were inspired by the yummy tarts that my sister-in-law makes for special occasions.

You will need:
*Your favorite homemade pie crust
(or cheat like me pick up ready made from Trader Joe's)
*Yellow cake mix - prepared
*Your favorite custard or pudding recipe OR 1 box vanilla COOK'N'SERVE pudding - prepared
*chocolate ganache frosting (recipe below)

Roll out your pie crust (or unroll it in my case!) and use a cookie cutter or a small juice glass

to cut circles of dough that are just about the size of the bottom of your muffin tin.

GENEROUSLY spray your muffin tins with cooking spray and then carefully place your

mini pie crust circles into the bottom of each muffin cup.

Fill each little pie cup with a little less than a tablespoon of vanilla custard or pudding.

Then cover each mini cream pie with a heaping spoonful of prepared yellow cake mix

to completely cover the pudding. Pop them in the oven and bake for about 12 minutes

at 350 degrees. Check them at 12 minutes and cook for a minute or two longer if the

tops don't look completely baked.

Time to whip up your chocolate ganache frosting!

For the ganache frosting you will need:

1 cup heavy cream

2 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces

2 cups milk or semi-sweet chocolate chips 

1. Heat the cream and butter in a saucepan until the butter melts and the cream starts to bubble.

2. Put the chocolate chips in your mixing bowl and slowly pour in the hot cream mixture.

3. Mix until smooth and glassy.

Then, after your little cakey pies have cooled, start dipping them into the ganache.

They will be so pretty and yummy looking! Try not to pop one into your mouth!

They are perfect for sharing with friends and serving at your next gathering.
They are the perfect ratio of pie to cake to pudding to chocolate.
I may not be in college anymore and Marie Callendar's may not be baking up
boston cream pies in their ovens, but these mini version are just as delicious
and super easy! Enjoy!